Improved apparatus for fermenting- ale, beer



inltml ,5mm

wasaasww A R G N W. L A KE, O F A D A M S, N E W Y O R K. Letters Patent No. 86,234, dated January 26, i869.

IMPROVE!) APPARATUS FIOR IERMENTING- ALE, BEER, Bcc.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patentmd making part of the same.

. inenting ale or beer.

In the drawingsf Figure lu-epresents a vertical section or" my improvement upon the line mfr, iig. 2.

Figure 2 is a plan View, partly in section, on the line y-y, s- 1- A represents the casks or tanks, which contain the ale or beer to be fermented7 made suieiently large'to admit the body of aman, 'in a stoo'ping or upright posture.

A is a cylinder, extending through the c .ask or .tank I A, from end to end, into which water is introduced, by means of the pipe E, to cool thekale or beer, and prevent too rapid fermentation of the same.

A is a partition, running horizontally through the cylinder A', from the front end to near the rear, leaving just room for the water, as it enters through the pipe E, to pass between the end of the partiti/on and the cylinder, linding its way out above the place of entrance through the pipe F.

The inner ends, b' b", of the coupling o', which conneet the pipes E and F to the head of the Cask, also, by passing through thehead of the cylinder A', hold it in position, as shown in the drawings.

a is a standard or support, placed within the cask or tank, underneath the cylinder A', to support its weight.

G g is a pipe, screwed or fastened into the bottom of the cask or tank, through which the beer or ale is drawn ofi' into casks or barrels.

It will be noticed here, that by having the pipe Grl constructed and arranged as represented in the drawings, wit-h the end g projecting upward above the inner surface of the cask or tank, two desirable objects are gained: iirst, the ale or beer is easily all drawn oii'; second, t'he sediment, settling to the bottom, rests in the swell of the oask or tank, while the end, g, of the pipe G projects upward into the perfectly-clear liquor, which may thus be drawn ofi` separately, instead of as, by the old process, being more or l'essmixed with sediment. y

When the pure liquor has thus been drawn o, the pipe g may be lowered by means of the screw-end G, and the next quality of liquor racked or drawn olf, and by taking the pipe g completely out, all the sediment may be easily drawn off or removed K, g. 2, represents a portion of the head of the cask or tank, removable, being held in position by means of the flanges le', the stay k, and the stay-bolt J.

This portion of the head, when removed, discloses an opening', sufficiently large to admit'the body ofa man', thus enabling any one to enter and clean the inside thoroughly, without having to moye the cask or tank from itslocation.

H is a water-box,arranged upon the top of the casks or tanks A, at the rear end, to economize space,'the pipes D, E, F, B, andC, entering at the front, instead ofthe rear of said cask, as in the former patent referred to, to aid in' accomplishing` the same saving of room.

Inside the water-box H is located the copper rcseri voir or trough I, in which is secured the wort before fermentation, as it comes from the boilers. This reservoir is somewhat smaller than the water-box, and so constructed and arranged as to leave a space of .several inches all around between it and the box, the widest space being towards andl at' the bottom, topermit the circulation of cold water as it enters through thefpipe D, which is supplied with one or more stop-cocks D.

This reservoir I is supplied at the bottom with a pipe, O, running downward through the water-box H,

and out between the casks or tanks, for the purpose of drawing oli` the yeast, scum, 86e., when the beer or ale has all passed into the tanks or casks, through the pipe B.

The top of the pipe O is supplied with a valve, or

4other movable appliance, to prevent the beer and yeast from running out prematurely. The reservoir I and water-box H are kept separated by flanges or standards l', as shown in iig. 2.

The cool water entering` the box'H, circulates around the trough I, to the opposite end from the place df env trance, where it is carried oii through the pipe E, into the cylinder' A', within the oasks or tanks A.

The water-box H is supplied with covers H', working upon hinges, or in other convenient' manner. Their duty is to keep out dirt and dust, and the wort from being exposed to the' atmosphere while fermenting.

is the pipe, through which the wort passes from the trough I into the casks or tanks A.

C is a pipe, through which the yeast and scum accumulating upon the surface of the wort in the casks, duringthe process of fermentation, iind their way back yinto the trough I, when the ale or beer sinks to the bottom, and is returned again to the casks A, through the pipes B.

The pipes B C D D E F, and all others used in connction wit-h and in my invention, are supplied with metallic couplings o', constructed in'such a manner as to permit of being easily disengaged whendesirable, and at thesame time capable of being made air and. water-tight, by suitable packing. They are also supplied with a proper number of suitable stop-cocks, to regulate the entry and discharge o f water or liquor. i

The water-boxes H and trough I are divided by partitions I", so as to give to each tank a corresponding reservoir, I, and Water-box B, enabling one section or one tank to be used separately, when desired.

H" are stationaryA covers tothe Water-boxes, which y itis not necessary to move, the lids or covers H' beingsufcientlylarge tor all ordinary purposes.

`Any numberof casks, A, and corresponding Waterboxes H, and troughs I, may be used, by arranging the casks side by side, as represented, extending the pipeD, and fitting up each cask, and water-box, vland trough, as described hereiubefoie. A

It is not necessary to arrange the cas'ks side by side, nor 4is it necessary that the water-boxes and troughs should be put on top of the former, but by following this arrangement, the pipesall entering at the front end, much space vwill be saved, as the Whole apparatus may then stand close'against the wall, 'or be built even into it, there being nonecessity of removal of any 'of the heavier portions. v y The manner in which my invention operates is as follows:

The reservoir I being iilled with Wort from the boilers,.issurronnded by water, by means of' the pipes D kD, the How being regulated by the stop-cocks D.y This somewhat cools the wort, and it runs down 'into the casks or tanks A, through the pipes B, when it is again subjected to the coolinginueuces ofthe water inethe cylinder A', introduced and edueted as set forth. The cask being full, the fermentation commences, and all the yeast, scum, 85e., are forced upward through the bent pipe C into the trough I, thus keeping the'casks clean and dry upon the outside. All the ale or beer that may be in the yeast, as it'settles to the bottom ofthe trough I, is taken back into the casks again by the pipe B, thus saving much Waste, and keeping the casks constantly full. Fermentation having ceased, and the contents of the casks having become sui cieutly settled, the prime alezorheer is drawn oi, as described heretofore, and the rest in like manner.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent: v

1. The opening or man-hole K, in the head of each cask or tank, for increasing the facilities for cleaning the same, in the manner set forth.

2. I claim the lids or covers H, and the stationary covers H to the water-box l-I, arranged for the purposes and uses as described. Y Y

Y 3. I claim the curved tube C, to be used instead of thetube bent at right angles, as in the former patent hereinheore referred to. 4

4. I claim the connecting of the tubes or pipes throughout, to the casks or tanks, and theV -box H, and trough I. and to each other by means of metallic coupling 'o, in order that they may be made air and water-tight, by packing, and sothat they may be easily disengaged when desired.

5. I claim the cold-Water pipe D, with its stop-cocks DV, and connecting-pipes with the water-box H.

6. I claim the stay 'or support a., for the purposes and uses set forth.

7. I claim the arrangement of the water-pipes E F, upon the front instead ot' the rear end of the tanks or casks, so that space may be economized, as described.

8. I claim the divisions I ."in the water-box H, for

Vthe purposes described. K M y 9. I claim the pipe G:A g, forv drawing of'the liquor,4

acting in the manner as s'et forth.

l0. I claim the relative arrangement-,of the casks, reservoirs, Water-boxes, and conducting-pipes, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

To the above specification of niyinvention, I have signed my hand, this 21st day of December, 1868.

` AARON W. LAKE.

' Witnesses:

H. F. OVERTON, M. E. RICH.' 

